conflict 1 of 2

Definition of conflictnext
1
2
3
4

conflict

2 of 2

verb

as in to clash
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably his statement conflicts with the facts, as given in the police report

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun conflict contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of conflict are contention, discord, dissension, strife, and variance. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

In what contexts can contention take the place of conflict?

The words contention and conflict are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When might discord be a better fit than conflict?

Although the words discord and conflict have much in common, discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

When can dissension be used instead of conflict?

The synonyms dissension and conflict are sometimes interchangeable, but dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

Where would strife be a reasonable alternative to conflict?

In some situations, the words strife and conflict are roughly equivalent. However, strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

When could variance be used to replace conflict?

While in some cases nearly identical to conflict, variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conflict
Noun
Maintaining psychological safety is a priority in any conflict resolution process. Forbestv, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 His departure followed reports that surfaced surrounding scheduling conflicts and production issues in 2023. Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Verb
There are also conflicting accounts on what the agreement means for the future of the Strait of Hormuz; Monday saw 35 commercial vessels transit the waterway, the busiest day in the strait since the war began. Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 23 June 2026 While no rules were broken, the revelations conflicted with Starmer’s portrayal of himself as an antidote to the cronyism displayed by successive Conservative leaders. Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for conflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflict
Noun
  • The earthquakes have compounded problems created by years of economic and political strife, particularly for the overwhelmed healthcare system.
    Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
  • The program was created by Congress in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters, civil strife and other instability.
    Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • But Kubo hasn’t played since suffering a meniscus tear in Japan’s opener against the Netherlands, and yesterday he was ruled out for the Brazil clash.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
  • At the heart of the clash is how to manage wild horse populations that can reproduce at a rapid clip.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • The recent military action tested an initial agreement that was supposed to halt hostilities during 60 days of negotiations.
    Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
  • However, on Sunday, Washington and Tehran agreed to pause hostilities, resume commercial vessel traffic through the strategically important waterway and resume technical talks towards a peace deal.
    Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • In his first chance to pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his still-new Padres uniform Friday night, Buehler was a star in this NL West rivalry once again.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 June 2026
  • The other final will see Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay renew their rivalry from Forbidden Door 2024, this time with an AEW World Championship match at Wembley Stadium on the line.
    Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • The vehicle stopped at the end of the ramp, then the motorcycle collided with it.
    Nick Lentz, CBS News, 28 June 2026
  • State police learned that a 23-year-old man from Newington was driving a Lexus ES 300 on I-91 South just south of the on-ramp from the Whitehead Highway when a motorcycle traveling the wrong way collided with the vehicle.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • But the discord between the two leaders stretches far beyond disagreements over the conflict in the Middle East.
    Tiago Ventura, Time, 24 June 2026
  • Despite the discord, the regime is likely to have the final say.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
    Gabriel Sama, Mercury News, 21 June 2026
  • Continue reading … — Two arrested as skirmishes erupt outside courthouse after Karmelo Anthony verdict.
    , FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Alnaji was part of a pro-Palestinian group protesting over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Kessler was demonstrating in support of Israel, authorities have said.
    Phil Helsel, NBC news, 2 July 2026
  • The war period saw its own moments of threats to rights, such as suspending habeas corpus, the legal mechanism to prevent arbitrary detention.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflict. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on conflict

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster